MUNDY TOWNSHIP, MI – A Mundy Township committee is looking into
dissolving its police department and contracting with the Genesee County
Sheriff Department.

The money-saving idea is in its early stage.

Township Supervisor David Guigear said the township is
looking at the possibility of contracting with the sheriff's department to consider all options for police service.

"I don't know if we've compared police before. I think we
want to make sure we're doing the right thing and spending our money the right
way," he said.

Guigear, who was the township's former police chief, said a
committee made up of himself and trustees Mark Frost and Dennis Owens is
researching the possibility of contracting with the sheriff and will report back to the township board. He
said he hopes the committee will be finished in time for the township board's next
meeting, but it might take longer.

Guigear said the sheriff's proposals cost about $1.2 million to $1.5 million a year,
compared to the township police department's budget of $2.1 million.

Mundy Township Supervisor David GuigearFile photo

"When we look at a potential savings, it's something we need
to at least investigate," Guigear said. "If we can potentially save money for
our residents and provide the same service, we want to do that."

Frost said the sheriff's proposal that the committee received
had the cost at $1.28 million, which included 24/7 coverage with two patrol
cars on the road at a time.

The township now, Frost said has 24/7 coverage, two patrol
cars on the road at a time and five more officer positions that include school
resource officers.

Frost said he wants to be able to compare the township's and
sheriff's costs for the same level of coverage. He also wants to hear input
from the public on the issue

Treasurer Joe Oskey said the idea was introduced during the
budget discussions, but said he's waiting to see what the committee says on the
issue. He does have concerns that he would want to research before making a
decision, especially about the level of service and details the police
department handles now.

Oskey said the township has worked well in managing the
budget, with a solid fund balance. There is no financial crisis, he said, that
would typically raise the issue to cut more costs.

"Since we're in good financial shape, I would lean toward
keeping the police department," Oskey said.

Guigear said the committee is still gathering information on
the issue.

Sheriff Robert Pickell, who initially referred all questions
to Guigear, said the sheriff department has a track record of success.

"I think that Mundy Township, they're an excellent police
department, but if they can make the police department even better and do it
with less cost, Supervisor Guigear wouldn't be don't his job correctly (if it
wasn't looked into)," Pickell said.

Pickell said sharing services is the wave of the future. He
also said the county is working to get a grant dealing with shared services
that could help with the implementation costs if Mundy Township moves forward
with the idea.

Dana DeFever can be reached at 810-429-3919 or
ddefever@mlive.com. You can also follow her on Twitter @DanaDeFever or
subscribe to her on Facebook.